Other relevant (Charles Nornoo)

Country Strategy and Programme Planning

• Tony Blair Institute (TBI) Short Term Consultant – As part of the FS-TIP Ghana project team and the TBI lead, worked on FS-TIP and supported the Ghana co-conveners of UNFSS to conduct various dialogues and prepared for Ghana’s participation in the UNFSS held in September 2021.
• Led the Government of Ghana team to undertake the second restructuring of the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project. May 2018.
• Team Member – worked with SSG Advisors of Burlington, VT (USA) to assist the African Development Bank and the G7 in designing and setting up the Agriculture Fast Track (AFT) Facility. January – April 2013.
• Co-Team Leader for the conduct of Social Returns on Investment (SROI) Analysis and Report for the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership in Ghana. March 2011 – December 2012.
• Team Leader – Worked with Enterprise for Development International (EfDI) of Nigeria, to develop a Corporate Social Investment Strategy for British Gas Nigeria (BG-Nigeria) – August to October 2009.
• Led a team to prepare the community Development Plan for the people of Penyi in the Volta Region of Ghana, December 2006 – August 2007.
• Led a team to undertake a review of the agricultural sector of Ghana, an input for the formulation of a new Country Assistance Framework (CAF) for Japanese Cooperation in Ghana, March 2005.
• Facilitated the establishment of a five-year strategic alliance between OICI-Ghana and Heifer Project International-Ghana to implement the USAID-funded ENHANCE project, 2003/2004.
• Led a team to prepare a Communication Plan for the External Affairs unit of the West Africa Gas Pipeline Project.
• Assisted in the preparation of a Community Development Plan for the Escravos Gas to Liquid Project (EGTL) Area of Nigeria for Chevron-Texaco, Nigeria. 2002.
• Assisted Enterprise for Development International (EfDI), a Nigerian-based NGO to review their country strategy, 2002.
• Facilitated the preparation of a Ghana Country Strategy Plan for Heifer Project International, 2002 & 2003.
• Co-coordinator for the preparation of TechnoServe/Ghana Annual Strategy and Operational Plans for the period 1995-2001.

Programme/Project Implementation and Management

• Facilitated the preparation of an Additional Financing and Restructuring Project Paper for the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project that was approved by the World Bank Board and Government of Ghana, May 2018.
• Facilitated the preparation of all the requisite Preparatory documentation that paved way for the final approval of the Ghana Peri-Urban Vegetable Value Chain Project (GPVVCP) – A World Bank project with funding from the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF), March 2017.
• Chief Resident Consultant [General Manager (GM)-Programmes]: Facilitated the setting up of the Programmes Department for the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) in Nigeria, by recruiting managers/field staff, and setting up offices. Managed a budget of about US100 million and staff of fifty-five (55) to plan and implement various projects for and on behalf of the Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria. Facilitated a review of the 15-year strategic plan of the RSSDA and c0-coordinated the first ever Rivers State Conference on Sustainable Development (RSCSD).
• Management of the Implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan and Alternative Livelihoods Programme for seven (7) communities that were resettled by the Bui Power Authority.
• Main Consultant and Technical Manager – Established a unit called the Newmont External Affairs Monitoring & Evaluation Unit (NEAMU) with a staff of twenty-two (22). Led in the design of an M&E System (including an MIS) that was tested for a period of 30 months before handing over to a counterpart manager that under-studied Charles.
• Management of the Implementation of the Community Development Programmes for the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company in Ghana and Togo.
• Management of two projects funded by Heifer International (Ghana), in the Volta Region of Ghana covering 32 communities.
• Assisted in the establishment and management of the West Africa Trade Hub. A USAID West African Regional Programme-funded project that covered 20 West African Countries (ECOWAS+5) and implemented by Carana Corporation & Abt Associates of the USA.
• Analysed all TechnoServe project/programme activities to assure cost-effectiveness.
• Helped with the coordination of the Umbrella NGO component of the UNDP-funded Ghana National Poverty Reduction Programme (NPRP).
• Served as a member of TechnoServe/Ghana Senior Management Team and ensured that monitoring and evaluation tools were practical and useful for management decision-making.

Baseline

• Coordinated the design of a joint Baseline Study for TechnoServe, OIC, ADRA & CRS.
• Team Leader for four (4) Regional Food Security Baselines: Upper West (1997),                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Brong Ahafo (1998), Upper East (1999) and Northern Region (1999) for TechnoServe Ghana;
• Lead Consultant, IFAD/UWADEP Project Upper West Regional Baseline Study – Ghana.
• Led a team to conduct a baseline study for the World-Bank funded pilot and post-harvest component of the $80 million Village Infrastructure Project (VIP) in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana; and
• Assisted in the design and implementation of a baseline on the FAO-funded Afram Plains Mechanization Project (1993).

Other Evaluations

• As the Chief of Party, supervised the conduct of the following evaluations at ASSESS for USAID West Africa Regional Economic growth Office (REGO) from April 2022-December 2023:
  • Partnership for Agricultural Research, Education and Development (PAIRED) Final Performance Evaluation. Final Report. Accra, Ghana: ASSESS for USAID/West Africa (February).
  • External Evaluation of the ECOWAS Activities Funded Under Power Africa. Final Report. Accra, Ghana: ASSESS for USAID/West Africa (June).
  • Performance Evaluation of USAID/West Africa WASH Portfolio in Benin and Côte d’Ivoire. Final Report. Accra, Ghana: ASSESS for USAID/West Africa (August)
  • Ex Post Evaluation of the USAID/Mali Out of School Youth Project (PAJE NIETA). Final Report. Accra, Ghana: ASSESS for USAID/West Africa (December).
• Co-Team Leader, Final Evaluation of Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited (EPNL) Sustainable Community Development Projects in Egi, Ogba Land, May-June 2007.
• Upper West Regional Food Security Final Evaluation Survey.
• Northern Regional Food Security Mid-Term Evaluation Survey.
• Upper East Regional Food Security Mid-Term Evaluation Survey.
• Midterm Evaluation of the USAID-Funded Title II DAP for OICI Ghana.
• Midterm Evaluation of the USAID-Funded Upper West Regional Food Security Programme for TechnoServe Ghana.
• Aid to Artisans (ATA) USA RISE Program Mid-Term Evaluation in Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
• UNICEF/IDRC-funded Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) prevalence surveys.
• Team lead for a nationwide UNICEF/IDRC-funded Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) prevalence and salt production/marketing surveys; and
• Independent Monitor for some African Development Foundation (ADF) funded projects in Ghana.

Business Plan Development

• Prepared 85+ feasibility studies and business plans for private companies, with most operating profitably in industries that include natural products, finance, microfinance, real estate, aviation, food processing, cosmetics, general manufacturing, jewellery, garments & textiles, transportation, and agriculture. These include, just to mention a few, Beige Capital (Feasibility & first Business Plan); Shelter Afrique, Shield Afrique, Dekro Homes, Afrinat Air, Day by Day Pharmacy, GPL Packaging, etc.

Private Sector Initiatives Facilitated

• Established and managed a fruit drink and water packaging facility in Accra.
• Established and managed a 100Ha cassava farm at Aflavenu, Volta region.
• Facilitated the very first demonstration of PowerLine Communication (PLC) as a technology for the accelerated development of Africa in Ghana. Team leader for the planning and deployment of this technology in West Africa to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Management.
• Team Leader for the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Community Development Programme preparation and rollout in Ghana and Togo.
• Established a packaging solutions company that has dealership in packaging machines, packaging materials – Introduced use of plastic labels for bottled water to Ghana.
• Designed, established, and managed an ultra-modern 50-computer, satellite-linked Business Support Service Centre with ancillary services such as scanning, photocopying, lamination, facsimile, bulk printing, etc. The facility eventually became a rural mini–Internet Service Provider (ISP) for the Denu-Aflao area of the Volta Region of Ghana.
• Established and managed a 30-unit Computer Laboratory for the Anloga Senior High School.
• Coordinated the setting up of certification and monitoring protocols and final procurement of both child labour-monitored Cocoa and Organic Cocoa (CoCoTrak) from Nigeria and Ghana for the Organic Commodity Products (OCP) of Boston, USA.
• Facilitated the establishment of the VORANGO Learning Centre, a business support unit for the Volta Region Association of NGOs and the public at large. A project wholly funded by USAID.

Micro-Credit/Micro-Enterprise Development

• Prepared the Feasibility study, Business Plan and Operational Manuals for Beige Capital that enabled them start operations in Ghana.
• Prepared a Business Advisory Manual for the Mfantseman Community Bank. Biriwa, Central Region, Ghana. Under the auspices of the African Development Foundation (ADF) of USA.
• Developed, and operationalised a loan portfolio management system for TechnoServe Ghana.
• Assisted with the design and development of a Training Fund for Ghana Microfinance Institutions Network (GHAMFIN) and the micro-enterprise sub-sector of Ghana for the Ministry of Finance.
• Assisted with the development of other micro-credit products such as buyer pre-financing, equipment leasing, etc. for TechnoServe Ghana.
• Supported in the design of a Pigeon Pea Inventory Credit Storage and marketing program for TechnoServe Mozambique.
• Played a key role in the development of TechnoServe/Ghana Inventory Credit Scheme, 1993 – 2001.

Proposal Writing and Donor Reporting

• Developed and wrote major project proposals for DSC, of which five were successful. This includes a six (6) month contract as the 3-year FSEF project funded by CIDA; a multiyear contract as the USADF Country Partner for Ghana; a 3-year contract to manage the CDP implementation of WAPCo in Ghana; a 3-year contract to manage the CDP implementation of WAPCo in Togo; and 3-year contract with HPI as the Southern Volta Project holder for the Avenor and Ketu projects.
• Coordinated HPI input into an OICI USAID Title II Development Activity Proposal (DAP) – Enhancementof Household Agriculture, Nutrition, Risk Reduction & Community Empowerment (ENHANCE) program.
• Assisted in the preparation of the Pilot Project Proposal of the Nigeria Network of the Sustainable Tree Crop Programme (NN-STCP).
• Developed and wrote major project proposals for TechnoServe/Ghana:
  1. Played a key role in the preparation of the USAID Title II Development Activity Proposal (DAP) that fully funded TechnoServe/Ghana for five years.
  2. Completed work on TechnoServe/Ghana’s DAP Amendment in FY 2001.
  3. The CEO of GP&SL was responsible at TechnoServe Ghana for programme reporting to donors and other stakeholders from 1993 to 2001.
• Have authored more than eighty-six (86) other project proposals for organisations such as the Heifer International Ghana (HIG), Enterprise for Development International (EfDI, Nigeria), Volta Region Association of NGOs (VORANGO), Learning Helping Living (LHL) NGO, Development Solutions Centre (DSC), Business Development Services (BDS) International, etc. Donors like DANIDA, USAID, the Netherlands Embassy, Africa 2000, DED (German Development Services), the EU (European Union), UNDP-GEF, the Commercial Banks, among others, approved these project proposals.